Biography: Currently residing on the South Coast of NSW, just south of Wollongong. I have had a love for art since early high-school and always knew my career would be in a creative avenue. I completed my Bachelor of Creative Arts at Wollongong University and there I explored textile, installation and sculpture as my different mediums. My passion for art is to use it as a way to explore society and expressing my views and thoughts on particular issues. I am looking forward to completing my teaching degree at Charles Sturt University to pass on this passion to my students.

The purpose of this work is to repurpose little works of art (doilies) and incorporate them into modern functional pieces of crockery. Choosing this method of artmaking, utilising clay, allows an almost fossilised imprint of the doily pattern, highlighting the intricate beauty and texture often overlooked. In the 21st Century, the crocheted doily has become redundant. What used to be such a repeated decorator piece of textile seen in many Australian houses, has now become a popular thrift-shop throwaway.

The collection was created through utilising traditional baking methods, using a rolling pin, flour and cutting. Using this to create the works drives the conceptual elements linking myself to activities often carried out by Australian homemakers.

This work aims to reflect on the domesticity of Australian housewives and includes a common hobby, women would partake in between the 1930’s to 40’s (creating doilies). Elizabeth Chifley was one of these women, spending most of her time within her home fulfilling household duties. This is an aspect of life that is often overlooked in historical accounts.

From being often only utilised as a functional piece rather than for its beauty, the doily has now become non-existent. By recognising this and its handmade, priceless value, this collection aims to bring awareness to the aspects of forgotten common traditional practices and hopes to eternalise this handmade practice of Australian women.